The King's Bastard - By Rowena Cory Daniells Page 0,130

could think of a way to outwit Cobalt.

Piro watched him for a few moments then asked, 'Why bother with such a big snow-cave, when we'll be in beds tomorrow night? Why camp at all, when we could ride on?'

'Orrade and I are not going to Dovecote,' Byren told her.

'I must confess, I wondered why Orrade was coming with us. But you... why aren't you coming to Dovecote?' A teasing sparkle lit her dark eyes and it struck Byren that his sister was a remarkably pretty girl... when she wasn't being irritating. 'Elina will miss you, Byren.'

That stung. 'No, she won't. She said she never wanted to see me again and Lord Dovecote's banned me from his estate.'

Piro's mouth dropped open. 'But why? That's ridiculous!'

Byren smiled because she bristled so beautifully on his behalf. He forced himself to go on. 'The Old Dove thinks I'm like Palos, a lover of men.'

Piro's laughter rang like a bell. Seeing his expression, she sobered abruptly. 'What made him think that?'

'I told him.'

She gaped.

'He was trying to protect me,' Orrade revealed with painful honesty. 'But I've been disinherited anyway.'

Piro sat down in the snow, stunned. 'So that's why your father disinherited you, Orrie. No wonder you didn't want to tell anyone.'

'Yes. And that's why neither of us can set foot on the estate. Elina thinks I prefer Orrade to her.' Byren heard the resentment in his voice and turned away to resume digging, using his anger to fuel the work. Sometimes he wished he had sent Orrade away instead of keeping him close by, a constant reminder of what he had lost. 'Orrie and I will camp here and wait for you. We've enough food to last seven days, more if we get lucky with our snares.'

Byren concentrated on working, waiting for her reaction. He didn't know which would be worse, pity or sympathy. Then he wondered if she would ask if it was true and that would be worst of all.

Garzik came back, having overheard everything, and began to help with the snow-cave.

'You knew all along, Garza?' Piro asked.

He nodded. More silence.

'Oh, Orrie,' Piro whispered. 'Here I was, feeling sorry for myself because I have to join Sylion Abbey when you've lost everything.'

Orrade looked up, startled. 'You have to join the abbey? But that would mean... you have Affinity?'

Garzik stopped work, his heart in his face. He loved Piro. Byren had not guessed and he doubted if the boy even realised it himself.

He was equally sure that Piro hadn't noticed, as she nodded to Orrade. 'I do. How do you think I controlled the unistag?'

The brothers exchanged looks, then turned to Byren.

'We only just found out,' he explained. 'It seems everyone has secrets.'

'Some more deadly than others,' Orrade muttered. Byren felt sure he was referring to Cobalt and his threats.

'What do you mean?' Piro asked, then wrinkled her nose. 'Oh, being a lover of men.' She paused as a thought struck her. 'But I've often heard Lence boast of the times you three have gone wenching. He claimed Orrie could -'

'Piro!' Byren cut her off, shocked.

'What?' Seeing his expression she flushed, then looked frustrated. 'I have ears, Byren. I know what you males get up to.'

'Maybe, but you don't hear mother talking about it,' Byren snapped.

'Oh really?' She rolled her eyes. 'You haven't heard the women when they are alone.'

Made uncomfortable by the idea that gossip of their exploits had reached his mother, Byren fell silent.

Orrade straightened up, dusting snow off his gloves. 'Several of the lords executed for being Servants of Palos were married, Piro.'

'So they were.' She stood up and brushed snow off her riding breeches. 'Well, you learn something new every day. What's for dinner?'

A surprised laugh escaped Byren. Orrade caught his eye, sharing his amusement in a moment of perfect understanding. No, he didn't regret their friendship and he didn't want to give it up.

So they cooked dinner and, afterwards, he beckoned Piro, leading her to the lookout where he turned to face her. Starlight illuminated her face, making her dark, tilted eyes mysterious.

'Eh, Piro, there's something you can do for me, but only if you've a mind to,' he began, reaching into his jerkin pocket to withdraw the poem.

'Does it concern Elina?'

'How did you know?'

She laughed. 'Last autumn cusp Elina told me she felt something special for you.'

'Then why'd she go off for a roll in the hay with Lence?' he demanded, surprised by the force of his anger, when he didn't really believe Elina had lain with his